Table of contents:

• Asbestos removal services in the UK
• Asbestos removal near you
• Gallery of asbestos we have removed
• Asbestos removal & disposal: questions people commonly ask

Asbestos removal services in the UK

Asbestos was extremely common in homes and businesses in the UK during the 20th century, but it was banned in gradual stages starting in 1985 and culminating in a complete ban in 1999. According to the UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA), there are more than 5,000 asbestos-related deaths per year, making it the biggest cause of workplace-related deaths.

Traces of asbestos can still be found in older buildings as well as in paint and roofing felt used on sheds and can commonly be dispersed when removing DIY & builder’s waste from a home or business. It is therefore absolutely essential to only choose a qualified and licensed (when necessary) asbestos removal expert found on this website.

Asbestos removal near you

All sorts of building materials can contain asbestos, including lagging and insulation, roofing felt, ‘popcorn’ ceiling tiles, Artex plaster, linoleum and vinyl flooring, gaskets, coating, and more. Do not attempt to DIY any demolition work if you are aware of the presence (or high likelihood) of asbestos on your property.

Rubbish.com has licensed waste carriers capable of performing notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW) with asbestos and some may also be HSE-licensed contractors capable of performing licensed asbestos removal.

Gallery of asbestos we have removed

Asbestos removal & disposal: questions people commonly ask

What are the dangers of asbestos exposure?

Asbestos exposure poses many dangers to humans on contact and/or inhalation, particularly over prolonged periods. The needle-like fibres contained in certain asbestos-containing materials can lodge inside of the lungs and lead to scarring and respiratory illnesses and lung cancers such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.

When should asbestos be removed from my home?

If you are aware of the presence of asbestos in your home or an assessment has confirmed its presence, it is imperative to have it removed as soon as possible. However, refrain from attempting DIY work or demolishing anything since these can dislodge asbestos fibres and lead to acute respiratory problems via inhalation of the fibres. An asbestos risk assessment must be performed before any non-licensed or licensed asbestos removal work can proceed.

What happens if asbestos removal regulations aren't followed?

Asbestos regulations have been in place in the UK since 2012 with The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, which outlines the duties of employers with regard to tasks that disturb (or are likely to disturb) asbestos in non-domestic properties, which includes the dismantling of structural elements containing asbestos and the removal of hazardous waste.

Failure to comply with these regulations can lead to serious health hazards for employees handling asbestos-containing materials as well as fines of up to £20,000 or up to 2-3 years in prison for serious breaches of the act.

Can you sell a house with asbestos in the UK?

Yes. It is completely legal to sell a home in the UK that contains asbestos, although you must legally declare this to prospective buyers. Home surveys can check for the presence of asbestos and lay this out in an inspection report for both you (seller) and prospective buyers.

Can you sell a house if you know it has asbestos?

If you are aware of the presence of asbestos in your home, you are still perfectly permitted to sell it so long as prospective buyers are aware of this. Naturally, this may dissuade some buyers and so you may wish to retain an asbestos removal company to safely and thoroughly dismantle and remove any asbestos-containing materials prior to listing the home for sale.

Alternatively, you can also list the home as-is, although you must declare the fact that the home contains asbestos as neglecting this important information is illegal.

What to do if property has asbestos?

If your property has asbestos, you should seek a solution to remove it as quickly as possible but without trying to do so yourself. First, contact your local council authority for advice on how to remove asbestos. You must also retain an asbestos risk assessment and seek a non-licensed or licensed asbestos removal professional depending on a specific set of criteria.

Can you live in a house with asbestos in the UK?

If you live in a house with asbestos in the UK (or believe your home may contain asbestos) you should seek immediate advice from your local council authorities on asbestos abatement solutions such as removal and disposal of asbestos-containing materials. Prolonged exposure to asbestos can pose serious health hazards.

Do you have to be qualified to remove asbestos?

Asbestos removal in the UK can be performed by non-licensed contractors or HSE-licensed contractors depending on many factors. Generally, sporadic and low-intensity asbestos removal and disposal that does not generate more than 0.1 asbestos fibres per cubic centimetre of air in a four-hour period can be carried out without a license; large-scale projects generating greater intensities and densities of asbestos and for certain types of material such as fine asbestos-containing material (ACM) dust does require a licensed contractor.

What happens if you breathe in a tiny bit of asbestos?

If you breathe in a tiny bit of asbestos there may be no immediate symptoms. Symptoms of asbestos exposure typically take many years or decades to develop and the danger is often most high when asbestos is inhaled over prolonged periods of time, i.e. living in a home with asbestos. If you are concerned about asbestos fibre inhalation, consult your GP and obtain a professional medical opinion.

Is one time asbestos exposure ok?

One-time exposure to asbestos is fairly common and typically does not pose any major health risks, although it’s best to avoid asbestos whenever possible. Most people aged 25 or over in the UK have been exposed to asbestos at least once in their lives, and many younger people may have as well due to its widespread use up until 1999.

Can you tell if you breathe in asbestos?

There are often no immediate telltale signs that you’ve inhaled asbestos since the fibres are tiny and can be impossible to see or smell. The most common way to verify asbestos exposure is to obtain a chest X-ray. An X-ray will not show the asbestos fibres but it can show a medical professional if there are any early signs of lung disease which may have been caused by asbestos exposure.

How long does it take for asbestos to harm you?

Asbestos generally does not show any harmful symptoms until many years or decades after exposure. The development of asbestos-related lung diseases can take approximately 10-40 years after exposure, but what makes this very difficult to calculate is that many individuals may live in homes and/or work in businesses with asbestos and expose themselves to it unknowingly for many years.

What should I do if I touched asbestos?

If you’ve touched asbestos with your bare hands, immediately wash your hands in warm, soapy water to dislodge any asbestos fibres. Also remove and wash your clothes and replace with new personal protective equipment (PPE) as soon as possible.

If you are employed by a contractor to remove asbestos, your employer has a duty to your health and safety as per the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

What is the most common exposure to asbestos?

The most common form of asbestos exposure is through inhalation of the fibres, particularly when dismantling or demolishing structural elements with asbestos-containing materials. These sorts of tasks often lead to acute dispersal of asbestos fibres, e.g. ripping out a wall and rattling the insulation which then releases large concentrated doses of asbestos fibres.   

What to do if exposed to asbestos at home?

If you believe that you have been exposed to asbestos at home, you should immediately seek advice from your local council on methods of asbestos abatement and/or removal. Consider contacting your GP if you are experiencing shortness of breath, coughing, or other unusual symptoms after inhaling asbestos fibres.

When was asbestos used in plaster walls in the UK?

Asbestos was extremely common in plaster walls from around 1940 to the late 1980s due to its superb characteristics including insulation and fire resistance. This led to many homes and businesses using asbestos-containing material (ACM) plaster as well as ACM plasterboard walls for decades until around 1990.

Note that in order to be considered an ACM plaster, the material need only have 1% asbestos content. Nevertheless, ACM plaster can be severely hazardous.

When did asbestos stop being used in UK houses?

Asbestos was extremely common in homes in the UK for much of the 20th century, particularly the latter half where it was used in a wide array of building materials. Starting in 1985, certain types of asbestos (crocidolite and amosite) were banned. By 1999, chrysotile asbestos was banned and thus all forms of asbestos were banned in the UK both for import and for use.

This means that many homes that were built or renovated prior to 1999 have a high likelihood of containing ACMs.

Are old floor tiles made of asbestos?

Many old flooring tiles used in homes and businesses in the UK contained asbestos prior to its ban in 1999. Some of the most common sources of asbestos in flooring include vinyl and linoleum floor tiles, floor backing, and adhesive products.

Although asbestos had many wonderful properties such as making flooring tiles more durable and heat- and fire-resistant, it poses severe health hazards and should be removed from your property.

What do asbestos tiles look like?

Asbestos flooring tiles look just like non-asbestos flooring tiles, although by now most ACM tiles are by default at least 25 years old. Some telltale signs of ACM flooring tiles can be seen underneath the tiles themselves, particularly under vinyl or linoleum flooring. The tiles/flooring may appear dark, oily, or discoloured underneath, and any adhesive glue products used may appear flaky.

Does a house survey check for asbestos?

Some house surveys may check for asbestos, but the only way to be certain about the presence of asbestos in your home is to retain an asbestos survey. Two main types of asbestos survey exist: a management survey and a demolition or refurbishment survey. HSE recommends that you only choose a qualified, accredited asbestos surveying organisation for your home or business.